The socials, the hangouts, the study sessions, the meetings, the positions, the classes, and even jobs, OH MY! College is an exciting time, yet it can be one of the craziest most robust times of our lives as well. Most of us, like myself, are typically balancing a lot of various commitments and activities each day. Life at college is fun but it can also be extremely stressful if not properly managed. With the school year approaching us, I am going to be sharing how I juggle college life and the many things that I do on a regular basis.
Planners Are Your BEST FRIEND!
Establishing some sort of planning system is definitely going to help you to stay on top of everything that is going on. I have used both paperback planners, like those from Lilly Pulitzer and Erin Condren, and Digital planners through Google Calendar and Apple’s Calendar. Over time, I have come to prefer having everything on a digital front, as I have been one to forget to write everything down in my paperback calendar after the first week of classes *not gonna lie*! However, I do know that paperback planners are best for others and that is great. The most important thing is that you find the planning system that is BEST FOR YOU! Once you do, make it apart of your daily ritual!
To-Do Lists Will Become Your Best Friend As Well!
Along with having a planner, creating a to-do list is an excellent way to ensure that you conquer that many things that you have to do on the daily in your college life. I put things as simple as putting together a grocery list for the week to things for my blogging platform to things as complex as a Programming project or studying for a test. It helps me to break everything down into what I need to do each day or over the weekend. For instance, if I have a big test on a Wednesday, then I may write on my to-do list the week before and the Monday and Tuesday the week of to take some time and study for that test. The same idea of breaking to-do list entries down goes to a big project, paper, or even a homework assignment. Having everything together on one list helps me to conquer all of the things that I have to do, and I know it will help y’all too!
Use Syllabus Week as Planning Week!
Although syllabus week may feel like a major treat in the college world, it does not does any of us any justice to simply attend class and use the afternoon as a time to do anything but focus on our new courses. Typically, college syllabi come with a calendar of important dates to remember for your courses – test dates, project due dates, assignment due dates, etc. Once you have those dates in hand, I would highly suggest breaking out your planners and to-do lists and writing everything down. Come up with your plan for how you will complete each of the tasks that come with your classes the moment you get that syllabus.
At the same time, as someone who is involved in clubs and organizations as well as my school’s events, I always jot down the important dates that I need to remember for these commitments along with my academic one’s. Usually, clubs and organizations will either send out their meeting dates via email or have it posted somewhere online like a school website. Like a syllabus, I would write down all of the dates that you are committed to attending a meeting or event. If you have anything that you know you need to do before any of those commitments, then I would add them to your to-do list. Social commitments are just as important as the academic commitments in the college world, as both shape us into the people that we are and will become. Being able to complete tasks in both our academic and social worlds will help us to be well-rounded college graduates going into the real world in the years to come.
Things WILL Pop Up Last Second and That’s OKAY
While we can always plan to the best of our abilities, nothing will ever go perfectly as we anticipated. You may have a social outing or meeting last longer than you anticipated and that is OKAY. You may have an assignment simply creep up on you and that is OKAY. You may have something pop up with your friend or roommate that you need to tend to and that is OKAY. You may just need an evening for yourself and that is OKAY. Even though it may feel like a pain when things creep up on us that we do not expect, remember that it happens to the best of us. The most important thing is that you are trying your best to do all that you can do to juggle it all. Remember that all of us have our days and that is OKAY. We are ALL human.
Leave Time for YOU
While our college lives seem to leave us with time for everything but ourselves at times, it is always important to set some time aside each day for ourselves. Without that time, we will not be able to be our best selves. In fact, putting in time each day to simply wind down or do something that we enjoy that isn’t related to anything in our college lives helps us to be the best that we can be in our college lives. Most importantly, setting time for you helps you to be the best version of yourself in everything that you do!
College is a journey leading to the destination of acquiring a degree. While the classes, assignments, social activities, and everything in between can feel like a craze at times, remember to take time to enjoy where you are at. As a Senior in college, it feels like yesterday that I began my college journey. College will not last forever and nothing ever does, so enjoy the moments along the way. Enjoy the times that you have getting ice cream or dinner with friends. Enjoy the late nights that you and your roommate(s) spend studying and cramming for tests. Enjoy the many t-shirt sales at your fingertips and take advantage of every club or class fundraiser that you want to support *money allowing*. Enjoy the times in class that you spend with those in your major or even those not in your major and get to know your classmates in all of your classes. Enjoy the times in class and in meetings that may just overwhelm you. Most of all, make the best of your college experience and the little things in between it all – they are truly what makes college oh so special!
XOXO – Katie <3